It may suffer from the same flaw the Maybach had - the rear taillamps are too small and make the car look unfinished. I think I prefer the current S-class.

I hate that the roof isn't entirely black. The weird body-matched strip at the rear is completely out of place.

I still wouldn't buy any Mercedes. The C63AMG is the only one that appeals to me from a looks and performance aspect, but it doesn't come in a good old-fashioned stick-shift, which is a deal-breaker for me.

Yes it does look good. For me, the more squared off headlights at the front is slightly reminiscent of the W116/W126 and W140, which I consider to be the best looking of all S-classes. I'm not entirely sure about the tail lights, though - it looks a bit like a Nissan, dare I say it! I'm sure it'll grow on me, though, just like the current W221 has.

Quoting wilco737 (Reply 8):Why not automatic shift? I don't need the old fashioned stick shift. Too much work

I guess I'm more European at heart than you are! I will never buy a car that isn't stick-shift. Actually, that may not be entirely true. I'm sure I will eventually buy a comfortable, automatic family car when I have kids. I will never, however, buy a performance car that isn't a traditional stick-shift. It's so much more fun. I don't even like dual-clutch transmissions, because the flappy-paddles aren't as fun and they eliminate some of the raw feel of a manual gearbox.

Quoting ANITIX87 (Reply 10):I will never buy a car that isn't stick-shift. Actually, that may not be entirely true. I'm sure I will eventually buy a comfortable, automatic family car when I have kids.

Never say never. I understand your point.

Quoting ANITIX87 (Reply 10):I will never, however, buy a performance car that isn't a traditional stick-shift. It's so much more fun. I don't even like dual-clutch transmissions, because the flappy-paddles aren't as fun and they eliminate some of the raw feel of a manual gearbox.

Why not at a performance car? A car with 457 HP, do you need a manual gearbox? I personally don't see the bigger fun in it. The automatic gearboxes are so excellent these days.

But I guess this is all personal preference.

I guess not many people want manual stick shift on the new S-class. THey want it comfortable.

Overall not bad. The flanks look nice indeed and finally they get the front right again after all those recent predator-mouth desasters from CLS to the new A-class.
But I dont like the rear. Mercedes is traditionally bad in designing a decent back end to their cars. The new S-class looks like its melting at the end (btw the same is true about the new CLA which I had a chance to see last weekend). And the rear lamps are ugly. I have seen numerous interior pictures of the new S so far, but also here, well done at first sight, but without a doubt no match for the grand limousines from the UK. No one beats the British at luxury car interior design.

Quoting wilco737 (Reply 1):I like it. The front looks a little like the new E-class facelift. But looks better than the old one.

The interiour seems to be fantastic - if it really looks like that.

Same here, but this model seems to be a car to be driven in more than a car to drive to a greater extent than the last one.

Quoting wilco737 (Reply 8):The C63AMG is amazing. Is my favorite car. I didn't buy it as it was too expensive.

The A45 is coming. For you anyway.

Quoting comorin (Reply 9):I wonder who is the exact demographic this car is aimed at, and which cars it competes with.

Older, well heeled types who are typically older and not likely car enthusiasts. In the mid-2000s I saw the average S-Class buyer had a yearly income of $250,000 and I suspect that has grown a bit by now. They fight for the same buyers as the 7 Series, Lexus LS, Audi A8, and a few others from time to time, although in the US the S-Class typically has the highest base price of the group.

Also Mercedes sells a lot to governments and livery services. Somewhere I saw a figure (it may not be totally true) that something like 90% of the world's governments own at least one.

Quoting BMI727 (Reply 14):Older, well heeled types who are typically older and not likely car enthusiasts. In the mid-2000s I saw the average S-Class buyer had a yearly income of $250,000 and I suspect that has grown a bit by now. They fight for the same buyers as the 7 Series, Lexus LS, Audi A8, and a few others from time to time, although in the US the S-Class typically has the highest base price of the group.

The clients in homeland Germany are the same, basically. But I guess here its an even higher percentage of company cars (75%+), while the rest sells mainly to rich retirees, those people who formerly had an S as a company car. Some buy it as their last car. And also in Germany its the car with the highest price tag of the quoted group.

For you as an American let me tell you the oldfashioned Lexus LS is no competitor at all here, selling just 2 cars last month, way less than what exclusive brands like Bentley or Ferrari do achieve! Frankly, I wonder why the LS is offered at all in Germany.

One thing to add, dont be fooled the interior shots show a full-spec S. And I have to mention two more cars to the competition, because the top-of-the range S-class (likely with a heavily modified body) will be positioned higher than the old one as it is planned that it should take the role of the failed Maybach as much as is possible. These two competitors are the Rolls-Royce Ghost and the new Bentley Flying Spur. The top-S-Class wont quite reach the lofty spheres of the Phantom and Mulsanne.

Final word: there are about 11 million people on this planet, and the number is growing fast in this world of societies drifting apart, which do have more than 1 mil $ free money to spend. 99% of those will need a car, or two, or three, or ten, or...!

Quoting wilco737 (Reply 8): Why not automatic shift? I don't need the old fashioned stick shift. Too much work

I recently drove a new shape BMW 330d, and I can't imagine it being nearly as much fun as a manual. I think you'd really struggle to get the best out of the engine with a manual gearchange - the 8 spd Auto was superb.

Quoting na (Reply 15):The clients in homeland Germany are the same, basically. But I guess here its an even higher percentage of company cars (75%+),

Europeans haven't seen a ton of that market sucked up by crappy Town Cars.

Quoting na (Reply 15):And I have to mention two more cars to the competition, because the top-of-the range S-class (likely with a heavily modified body) will be positioned higher than the old one as it is planned that it should take the role of the failed Maybach as much as is possible.

It's clear that the model will be heavily S-Class based, but I seem to recall conflicting reports as to whether it would be just a top of the line S-Class or a separate model probably called the 600 and/or Pullman.

Quoting ANITIX87 (Reply 10): I will never, however, buy a performance car that isn't a traditional stick-shift. It's so much more fun. I don't even like dual-clutch transmissions, because the flappy-paddles aren't as fun and they eliminate some of the raw feel of a manual gearbox.

You better uy one soon because Ferrari recently dropped the manual box, Porsche 911 GT3 is now PDK, I suspect all 91's will go that way pretty soon. It even looks like the next M3/M4 will be auto only.

I like this new S-Class but if I was in the market for this type of car my money would be going to Jaguar, the XJ has me written all over it.

Quoting BMI727 (Reply 17):It's clear that the model will be heavily S-Class based, but I seem to recall conflicting reports as to whether it would be just a top of the line S-Class or a separate model probably called the 600 and/or Pullman.

Thats indeed unknown so far. The only thing we know is that it´ll be considerably longer. I doubt that a car that everybody points out as an S would be attracting anyone driving a Maybach, Flying Spur or Ghost. So I expect it to be a lenghtened S-chassis, but to carry an individual body perhaps using S-class parts here and there. I wonder if it will be as individual and grand as the 1960s 600 Shortwheelbase (the one Elvis had). That was the best luxury car Mercedes ever built and the only serious RR/Bentley competitor they had in a 100 years. If they fail to build a modern times 600, stylistically well apart from the massproduction S-class it´ll be another flop like the pretentious Maybach. I am sure the engineers will get it right, but I have sufficient reason to doubt that the designers will.

Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 19):Because you have less control. No engine braking (at least not as responsive as with a manual). That means far less control over the behaviour of your car, particularly entering and during corners.

When I see someone who bought a Porsche 911 or other proper sports car with an automatic transmission in it, I feel regret that we are not allowed to shoot them.

The new 911 GT3 is PDK, Porsche say it's more involving than the manual, it's also far more responsiove than any manual transmission will ever be.

Quoting Superfly (Reply 20):Nice looking car. Glad to see the fixed glass top that Ford & Mercury started in the 1950s is catching on.

It's not fixed it's a double sunroof.

Quoting BMI727 (Reply 21):You can't blame them seeing as they only sold two. Not 2%, just 2.

I thought it was 16, or was it 16 manual M5's sold in the US, I can't remember which.